why 32:sixteen?

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Everyone has their own reason for riding singlespeed.

appropriate technology

Have you ever stopped to consider whether we really need something new or improved?

Sure new stuff always works better initially - once some other sucker has been the guinea pig while the manufacturer ironed out all the bugs - but that's often only because it's new.

So once you've established that new stuff isn't always necessarily better than the old stuff and got out of the rat race of trying to keep up with everyone else you can start to look at what you need more objectively.

So are gears appropriate? Consider this. Would you put 10" travel forks on the front of a lightweight cross country bike? Would you put rigid forks on the front of a world cup downhiller?

Of course not! Because it wouldn't be appropriate.

And that's the point. Appropriate technology.

Instead of asking a singlespeeder why they've only got the one gear ask yourself why you have so many. Are they appropriate?

luddites

Stop that! Let's not confuse appropriate with Luddite. Luddites were fighting for their rights to work. Singlespeeders aren't against new technology. We just fight for our right to ride.

Here in the grit of Northern England V-brakes last about 80 off-road miles. Less if it's wet. One 20 mile ride is our current record for fastest destruction. They are cheap to buy, hellishly expensive to run, and hungry for maintenance. This all means less riding time. Disk brakes on the other hand are expensive to buy, but cheap to run, and need little looking after. So what do you choose? Whichever is appropriate for you, your riding and your budget. (But lets face it, less maintenance is a good thing where singlespeeders are concerned).

So once we've understood that singlespeed is just the right technology, whether it be old or new, for a particular rider and their circumstances it becomes easier to understand.

attitude

Singlespeeding is more than just the bike you ride and more the attitude you wear. For instance...

Do you prefer real coffee to instant? Do you prefer to buy your coffee as beans and then grind it yourself by hand instead of turning it to flour in an electric grinder?

That's singlespeed attitude.

Do you like to squeeze fruit juice by hand instead of buying pasteurised 100%-pure-but-tastes-nothing-like?

That's singlespeed attitude.

Do you still like to read the written word on paper instead of / as well as your monitor?

That's singlespeed attitude (and we have some special links just for you to get your grubby little hands on some grubby little 'zines that will brighten up your day).

Do you like to spend time using things rather than looking after and fixing them?

That's singlespeed attitude.

Do you hate the way everything changes so fast these days? Does the very idea of planned obsolescence make you feel cynical?

That's singlespeed attitude.

Middle class snobbery?

No, just a taste for the things in life that got a lot more convenient but lost a lot of quality.

anyone else got any suggestions? you there, at the back?

Some other excuses you might like, collected from various sources. You might like to try our media section for more.

"To be honest I don't really know myself".

"Walking comes often and without guilt".

"They're easily and cheaply built out of old frames and leftover bits".

"Just for a laugh".

"An excuse for being crap".

"Freewheeling becomes an art form".

"A reaction to the over complication of the modern mountain bike".

"Singlespeed is not fun. It's a punishment".

"If you pass someone with gears you feel like a hero. If you can't pass a person with gears you always have the excuse that you're stuck with a singlespeed".
Paul Turner (Yes, the one from Rock Shox).

"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft. As for me give me a fixed gear".
Henri Desgrangé, L'Equipe, 1902

"You don't have to think about changing gear so you think more carefully about line choice".

"There's less to break and get clogged".

"That stealthy feel of hammering along bumpy sections of singletrack without the usual chain clatter".

"It's quicker. Once you realise the effort involved in gaining momentum you work harder to keep it, especially on the downhills".

As you can see it's a personal thing. Everyone has their own reason.

But remember you don't have to justify your choices to anyone but yourself.